Stubbing Court Training Ltd (SCT)’s Apprentices of the Year were announced at the most recent of the Chesterfield training provider’s acclaimed Masterclass Series on 8 July at Parklands Equestrian Centre, Sheffield.
Eleanor Stevenson is SCT’s ‘Apprentice of the Year 2016’, while Emily Ward wins the ‘Advanced Apprentice of the Year’ title.
Eleanor is doing her Level 2 Apprenticeship at her family’s Sykehouse Arena competition centre near Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Sykehouse Arena holds competitions and offers clients the opportunity to train with top coaches, Eleanor said: “Not only am I developing my equestrian skills through my Apprenticeship, I am also learning different coaching techniques from other trainers and the principles of show centre management, both from a financial and operational perspective.”
She added: “The Apprenticeship has given me a future career plan. I now want to progress to the Advanced Apprenticeship and then do the Coaching units. The Apprenticeship gives clear standards to work towards and gives great opportunities to have training from world-class professionals.”
Eleanor is a successful show jumper – as is Advanced Apprentice of the Year Emily Ward, who is Britain’s number one under-18 rider. She was part of the winning Junior Nations Cup team in Belgium in June, and is hoping for selection for the Junior European Championships at Millstreet in Ireland in August.
Emily is employed by show jumper Michael Whitaker, who has long been a staunch supporter of SCT’s Apprenticeship scheme and who is heading for his sixth Olympic appearance for Great Britain in Rio this summer.
“Doing the Advanced Apprenticeship has developed my overall knowledge and skills in horse, yard and business management, and further demonstrated the importance of correct procedures and the highest standards in all aspects. It has prepared me for setting up my own yard in the future,” said Emily.
Eleanor and Emily were awarded their prizes by show jumper Matthew Sampson, who gave the third of SCT’s 2016 Masterclass series. The Masterclasses are exclusive to SCT’s Apprentices and employers, and offer them chances to train with the very best international riders and coaches.
One attendee said: “It was so well-organised and Matthew is a great trainer – what an opportunity!”
Prizes for the Apprentice of the Year and the Advanced Apprentices of the Year were kindly donated by TopSpec, Equestrian Life and Thomas Irving Equestrian Superstore.
For more information on SCT’s Apprenticeships, visit www.stubbingcourttraining.com.
